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Madigan Says House Is Short Of Gay Marriage Votes

housedem.state.il.us

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan predicts a rough road ahead for a same-sex marriage bill. He says passing the bill out of the lower-chamber would be ``very difficult.''  Madigan says he backs the measure that would allow same-sex couples to marry. The Senate approved it last month and it awaits a House floor vote. But House lawmakers have been trying to gather enough support for the legislation.
    

Madigan says the House is 12 votes short.  

The Chicago Democrat also says he's been contacted by Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, who opposes the idea of gay marriage.  
 

Advocates for giving same-sex couples the same marital rights as heterosexuals acknowledge there's more resistance in the House than Senate. But they're confident of House approval soon.  
    

Governor Pat Quinn has said he would sign the bill, should it reach his desk.